Weather disturbances impact the enjoyment of outdoor swimming pools - Unfavorable weather conditions dampen the outdoor bathing season
In the heart of Germany, the summer season of 2025 has brought a mix of fortunes for public pool operators. While some pools, such as those in Darmstadt, have managed to attract more visitors than last year despite the unpredictable weather, others have seen a significant drop in attendance.
In Darmstadt, the Woog, Arheilger Mühlnchen, and DSW public pools have collectively welcomed around 150,000 bathers by the end of July, a slight increase from the previous year. However, the weather in July has been less than ideal, leading to a significant decrease in visitor numbers compared to typical summer months. Volker Nies, spokesman for the operator RhönEnergie, reported that July was a weak month with 22,600 visitors, the lowest number for a July in a long time.
On a positive note, the water at the Rosenau public pool in the city is heated, ensuring a comfortable swimming experience even during cooler weather.
Meanwhile, in Frankfurt, the lower visitor numbers have resulted in reduced shifts for pool staff, but the opening hours have remained unchanged. The city's pool operators are not reporting high demand, indicating that the lower visitor numbers may be a result of the unfavourable weather.
In contrast, Fulda's largest public pool, the Rosenau, is enjoying a successful season with over 78,000 visitors, significantly more than last year. Despite a slight dip in July, the pool remains popular, with several hundred swimming enthusiasts visiting every day. The water in the Ringallee public pool in Gießen is usually heated by the residual heat in the exhaust gas of the combined heat and power plant located there, contributing to its appeal.
However, the story is different in Wiesbaden, where visitor numbers are about 30 to 40 percent below last year's values in July. The Kallebad in Wiesbaden counted around 13,700 guests, a stark contrast to the 23,100 visitors recorded in the same period last year. The city is trying to attract guests with targeted offers during the holidays, but the impact on attendance remains to be seen.
The search results do not provide specific information on the impact of heavy rainfall on public pool attendance or adjustments in opening hours in Wiesbaden and Frankfurt am Main. Without location-specific data or official statements from these cities' recreational authorities, precise impacts or changes cannot be confirmed.
For accurate and current details, it is recommended to check the respective city or pool operators' official websites or local news sources for announcements related to weather impacts on pool operations in Wiesbaden and Frankfurt am Main.
- To cope with the unpredictable weather this summer, some public pool operators in Germany have had to adjust their employment policies to accommodate reduced visitor numbers, like in Frankfurt and Wiesbaden.
- In Darmstadt, despite a challenging July weather-forecasting period, the community policy for their public pools has enabled them to implement measures that welcome around 150,000 bathers by the end of July, a slight increase from the previous year.
